Student By Day, Archer By Night: Kaufhold Prepares to Travel the World with the 2018-2019 World Cup Team

Most students know Casey Kaufhold as a hard-working student and a friendly face in the hallways; however, Kaufhold is a member of the United States Senior Archery Team and climbing her way to gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Since she was two years old, Kaufhold has been involved with archery. Her father started Lancaster Archery Supply at the young age of sixteen. Once he started a family, he involved Kaufhold and her brother, Conner, in his passion.

“My dad pretty much made my brother and I get into it (archery) when we were younger,” Kaufhold explained. “I started competing at age eight with an Olympic Recurve Bow. My brother competes as well, he started at age ten and he is now seventeen. He competes in the fourteen years to seventeen years division. He made top five out of the country this year.”

Kaufhold herself is currently ranked first in the country. She plans to travel the globe during her upcoming indoor season, hitting Sweden, Italy, Las Vegas, and France.

“I am on the 2018-2019 World Cup Team,” Kaufhold stated. “I qualified for that this past summer. The people on the team are all very nice, but they are all adults, so I am the only technical minor on the team. It is a little bit weird to not have kids my age to talk about teen stuff with, but it’s good to see how mature they are, and how they act as adults in the same sport that I am in. Other than the locations I listed earlier, I will be travelling to Colombia, Turkey, Germany, and China for the outdoor season.”

While shooting with professionals, Kaufhold also must manage school.

“Hopefully I’ll start cyber schooling soon,” Kaufhold confessed. “It is difficult to juggle school, practice, and tournaments. I have practice from 4:00 to 9:00 after school every day, and I then I have to do my homework.”

In the past, Kaufhold has travelled with all her schoolwork, but that will become easier when she begins cyber school. She does, however, have a resource in her teammates who are available for homework help.

“It’s pretty cool that all the adults are there, and some are actually substitute teachers,” Kaufhold said. “I can ask them questions if I need help.”

Kaufhold dreams of being part of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

“The Olympic Qualification Stages start early next year in March and the first qualification stage is in Arizona,” Kaufhold described. “They have it cut down to the top sixteen out of the country, which I am first in now. In Arizona, they will cut it down to the top eight, then the top four, and then the top three. The top three will go to the Olympics.”

2 thoughts on “Student By Day, Archer By Night: Kaufhold Prepares to Travel the World with the 2018-2019 World Cup Team”

Although I wasn’t close friends with Casey I can’t help but feel happy and proud for her. She is so nice and to see her succeed in something she loves is great. Keep it up Casey we’re cheering for you!